Search for missing 14-year-old Elisha intensifies

Missing Elisha Gault (14)

Conor Kane

Dozens of emergency services personnel and volunteers have been spending the past two days searching for missing teenager Elisha Gault, with concern growing for her welfare.

Gardai urged members of the public to check their property, and landowners to check their land for the 14-year-old, from Carrick-on-Suir, who was last seen on St Patrick's night on a local bridge.

A number of boats, including the Carrick-on-Suir river rescue craft, Nenagh Search and Rescue, and Waterford River Rescue, have been used to search along the River Suir for Elisha, while the Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter has also been in the area.

Gardai were yesterday making door-to-door enquiries in the town.

Student

The teenager is a student at Comeragh College in Carrick-on-Suir and has been living on New Street in Carrick for more than a year with her family.

It is understood that the girl's mother is from Belfast but lived for a time in Piltown in south Kilkenny and moved to Carrick over a year ago.

Gardai said the family is very concerned about Elisha's welfare. They have urged friends or acquaintances to contact the garda station in Clonmel or Carrick to leave their details.

They also want anyone in private houses in the Carrickbeg/Dillon Bridge area to check any CCTV footage they may have and to provide it to gardai, and anyone with gardens, outhouses or sheds to check for any trace of the teenager.

Anyone with "dash-cam" footage from the night has also been asked to contact gardai.

Blonde

Elisha was last seen on Dillon Bridge at about 10.15pm on March 17, heading toward the Carrickbeg area on the Co Waterford side of the town.

She is about 5ft 10in to 6ft, with blue eyes and dyed blonde hair.

Gardai do not have details of what she was wearing.